Sign structure



Aug. 18, 1953 H. R. OWEN ET AL SIGN STRUCTURE Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 6, 1948 HAR/els, K/ECH, FOSTER a Hn/eR/s `BY 4 /wv/ //......H...,/

Aug. 18, 1953 HQ R. OWEN ET'IAL SIGN STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1948 H w l x H l @NMa m 5 WRR ,my Mmmm 4 f oHm, \Qu/ VMPEH l .o mR/ w 2J. Ai, H B6) M W M HRW Aug. 18,v 1953 H. R. OWEN r-:TAL 2,648,925

I SIGN STRUCTURE Filed May 6, 1948 K 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 /4 53 NVENTORS.

HAROLD OWEN RALPH B/eow/v BY THE/R` ATTORNEYS.

H. R. OWEN ET AL -SIGN STRUCTURE Aug. 18, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Ma'y e, 1948 o@ L f/ A mmmwmww. my f/// Uf/1Q z .my ,Momma HL R. OWEN ET Al.

SIGN STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 6. 1948 D |.D/// I m\\.w O 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 O O /Nva/vroRs. HAROLD ROL/VEN QA L RH BRO w/v BY THE/l? ATTORNEYS. HARR/s, K/EcH, FOSTER HARR/s 6v Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STA'w TENT OFFICE SIGN STRUCTURE ration ofCalifornia.

Application May 6,1948, Serial No. 25,328

(Cl. Lt0n-13.0)A

4 Claims. l

This inventionrelates4 generally to; Sign structureand particularly to a sign structure of a no1n low box-liketype adapted to be supponed on and' to, project from the side of a building or other vertical support.

A1 primary objecto the invention is to provide a sign structure, oi the character referred to, composed of a plurality of elements capable of being assembled to form signs of various widths and heights in accordance with the requirements and in which the elemer-its may comprise i'ace panels each having a-peirnetricalflange adapted to be connected to the corresponding anges of adjacent panels-tov construct the sides of the sign, the, side assemblies thusY produced being reinforced by the connected anges which are disposed nuthin the structureand which; Provide, yin

Another. object is to provide a sign or the typel specified in4 which. the top, front, and bottom openings of the signstructure are closed by border members .having flanges which are bolted to outer-most flanges` the side members so` as to complete the. box-liliestructure.

Another important object-oi the invention is to provide. a sign structure, of the character referred tc, inwhich panels oi the side members and the individual border elements are constructed as castings of light-Weight metal, such as aluminum alloy, so. thattheir outer surfaces can be suitably embossed, luted or otherwise embellished or shaped to produce a. three-dimensional efectwhich adds greatly to the appearance of the sign as a .whole and tends to draw the attentioncf `persons passing the sign. The border ele-r mena being made-as castings, possess inherent strength thus serve to add rigidity to the structure4 so that. the sign .is` adequately braced without thev of heavy and complicated frainewornvsuch as is employed in conventional signs, whereiny the. sidesare built up from sheet Another obj ectis, to: provides.; sign of the character referred to in which the outer surfaces, ofA the cast face panels; are, formed With checks, iiutes, or other markings which serve tadifusethe light which is: directed'thereagainst by the illuminating means so that sharp and .velltdefined sign'` characters are produced and the appearance of thesign greatly improved. lt is' another object in this respect to provide a sign in u/hich thev surface markings on'the face panels for-rn a background field giving a mat effect' to the light rays, thus allowing any smooth, depressed, level, or raised charactersptobe contrastingly more brilliantly illuminated.

Another Object is to provide asignof thetype indicated which'embodies means by which-the sign can be readilysecured-to the Wall of a building or other vertical surface, thismeans. prefer-A ably consisting o-hanger members bolted -to cerv tain ofthe brace rnenibersvorA spreadersand pro` iecting rearwardly. from the sign structure'to be connectedr tofangle irons or other bracket means' By this means, the sign-can be` conveniently mounted on andfremoved from thev vertical support and. the mounting means;y is

on the building.

greatly simplified.

Another object is to provide a sign which isex tremely simple in construction, one which can be quicklyV assembled from prefabricated panels ,and border elements in a Wide variety4 of sizes and shapes, one which isI especially strong and ment of component units which may benot onlyA manufactured more economically, but which may` be also distributed more economicallythan is the present.Y custom. The present custom assembly units, with contiguous reinforcing lianges, permit inexpensive packagingA and shipment Without longitudinal frame members, such as ordinarily;v usedv in sign construction. Assembly. is-

made locally by dealers, thus permittingthe sign indusnvV for the irst time to-follow the same practices of other Isuccessful industries, namely,

centralized manufacture and local retail distri--v bution, as difierentiatedfrom the present custom in tnesign industry oflocal manuiacture-through;

unecononiic hand processes.

Another object is to provide a signin which the illuminating'.tubes` can be poseflat bothv sides;l ofA theraisedgporticns. so asV to predice an. illuminated outline,- for:v the; sign., character, the

. relationgbetween titer-raised p orticnssandztnetubes being such that a minimum amount of light is directed onto or into the sign character between the tubes so that the letter outline remains sharp and distinct and the merging of the light rays to give the appearance of a wide sign character is avoided.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and from the drawings, which are intended for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illuminated sign constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sign structure with the upper border member removed to disclose the internal construction;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, takenon line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 5 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 5--5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the lower, outer corner of the sign;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified face panel used as one of the components of the side members of the sign, the panel having a sign character formed thereon for receiving an illuminating tube;

Eig. 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing an alternative construction;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a face panel of a further modified type in which the illuminating tubes provide a letter outline; and

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line l-H of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the improved sign is herein shown as adapted for mounting yagainst the outer surface of a building, the sign being of box-like form and including opposite side or display members ID and l, a top wall |2, a front wall |3, and a bottom wall |12.

The side members l0 and may be of any desired shape, Fig. l showing these members as embodied in a substantially rectangular shape, by way of example. Each side member H3 and I is composed of a plurality of individual side or face panels 2B which are preferably, although not essentially, of rectangular shape. In accordance with this invention, the panels 25J are cast from light-weight, non-corrosive metal and each is provided with a peripheral flange 2| which denes the border thereof and which projects at right angles to the plane of the panel at one side thereof. The anges 2| of the panels are provided with a series of apertures 22 (Fig. 2) which are used for the purpose to be presently explained.

While the panel elements may have plain outer surfaces, it is within the concept of this invention to provide these surfaces with either depressions or embossed portions during the molding or casting of the elements so as to add to the attractiveness of the sign and provide a thirddimension-al effect. The panels shown in Fig. i are illustrated, by way of example, as embossed with small squares or pillows 23 which together provide a checker design, this design tending to conceal the lines of joining between the several panels. The outer surfaces of the face panels 2Q are preferably coated With vitreous enamel, baked to a hard, smooth, and lustrous nsh.

Certain of the panels 20 may be cast with raised stroke portions 25 of any desired configuration intended to represent the letters or other chosen sign characters. Disposed in or surrounding and following the outline of the recesses 25, are electric luminescent tubes 25 which are mounted in any suitable manner and which are suitably connected in an electrical circuit. When the tubes 26 are lighted, the surfaces of the recessed portions 25 serve to reflect or silhouette the sign character.

The individual cast face panels 2t are assembled to produce the side members l) and it by placing the panels upon a smooth horizontal surface with their flanges 2| projecting upwardly. The flanges 2| of each panel 2G are connected to the adjoining flanges of adjacent panels by means of bolts 28 which pass through aligned apertures 22 of the flanges, nuts 29 being screwed onto the threaded ends of the bolts, as shown best in Fig. 3, to retain the several panels in connected sideto-side relationship. The joining of the panels 20 is continued in this manner until an assembly of the desired size and shape is produced. lThe abutting flanges 2| of the several panels form, in effect, crossing ribs on the inner surfaces of the side members I@ and and by this means the members are adequately braced and reinforced. The members Eil and are thus made self-sustaining and, because they are cast instead of being fabricated from sheet metal, they possess considerable inherent strength `and will not bend or flex to any appreciable amount when the sign is subjected to high winds and other atmospheric conditions. Because of this fact, there is little or no tendency for the vitreous enamel or other coating to crack during normal use of the sign and the cost of servicing the sign is maintained at a minimum.

The side members l!) and made up of the face panels 2li, are held in spaced, parallel relationship by means of spreaders or bracing members 3i) and 3|. The spreaders 3d consist of strips of sheet metal having a central, longitudinally extending offset rib 32 so that the spreaders are, in effect, substantially channel shape in cross section and thus resist bending or other distortion. The spreaders 3@ have pairs of apertures adjacent their ends which are adapted to align with any two adjacent apertures 22 of the flanges 2| of the side members and H, and are connected to the flanges by bolts 33 and nuts 3d. The spreaders 3i are similar to the spreaders 35i but are made somewhat wider and provided with a pair of the longitudinal ribs 32. The spreaders 3| are connected between the side members at points where maximum stress is apt to occur, and are secured in place by the bolts 33 and nuts 313. It is thus seen that the side members I and are maintained in spaced, parallel relationship by the spreaders 3i: and 3| which may be arranged at any desired locations therebetween.

As mentioned previously, the sign is adapted to be mounted against the wall of a building or other vertical surface, and the present invention contemplates the provision of means, incorporated in the sign structure for so mounting the sign. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, a pair of anglebars 36 are secured to the channel portions of ribs 32 of adjacent spreaders 30 and 3i, at the upper end of the sign structure, by means of bolts 3l and nuts 38. The angle-bars 38 constitute hanger members and have their outer ends projecting rearwardly from the sign structure and provided with holes 39 for receiving bolts. liti', oiggother fastening :meansaby'iwhiclipthef bars.. are connected to; angular` bracketsnv lli.'-v mounted; on :the iside ft2', of ,thefbuildillg-i; Similar.:- hanger members may also be provided-at;therA lower: end; of the .I-signz .to provide maxmumfsupportY for .the sign.- When it: isfdesired`v to pivotally;

connect# the signi to,v the. sidevoi: the. building;r a

single'angleebar may-rbc,-securedrtogboth the up per andrlower; ends :.of the x sign structure 4and in; I this acase; the attachingbolts .465; ser-.ve as the.;

The rearward aside` of I the f pivotal connections sign structurer maygbe closed byv means ofw a sheet` metaLplatei-id secured tothe-vertical flangesfl;

bers l Sand. l i:

The boxeliizefsieniisfcompleted by;applyingy ,ore A namental ielements =to$ the.;operr.,top, frontand bottom .thereof togform; the frim orrbcr-.derofv the size; shape, and other Vcharacteristics,of the sign to. 'oe-produced; Tn any` event;,the-border elements preferably have embossedY outer-surfacesso that'a third dimensional effect isgproduced and;l the appearance of :the sign as awhole is :greatly Y enhanced.v Preferably, .the Aouter surfaces of the. border-elementsfhave. crossing lines; so.y as sto harmonizegwith' thev designoffthe face: panels 20 of the side members ltl'zand-l l andl'conceal the ad joining edges ot the elementsor; the seamtherebetween:

While the various: components of; the border canv be of :any-desirablershapaand arranged inany; particular manner; Fig: 1 shows;the border:

as; comprisingf` platedilre felement'fwh-ich; is1 employed .forl closing the top fofthe sign;;.struc ture.

scribed; The frontoffthe sign may .be-composedI ofborder., sections; or-v elementsY `of .fdiferenttypes,

Fig; l showing -it` as 'includingu arrupperyelement l'fand' alowerv-element ed; The ,border element d3 iis made-in theform of'azplatehaving longi tudinally spaced; transverse,V ribs or stripes.4 This element lbe bolted directlyfto the ver-- tical :flanges 2 Iv oithev side -rnembersfV It. and'l l or tothe spacer members di.

The-lower border elem-ent Mi. is--concavof-convex in: cross section and, as-shown irr Figs.Y 1 andj; has longitudinally-spacedtransversefribsli; also ofA concave-convex shape. As-shownin Fig; 5;

the: velement :tenis: boltedy .'to.-thea.spacerrmerrrbersrv M but, ifipreferred; itmay Ibe similarly-secured" toy the' forward edges4 of the side -membersgwhen the spaced members are not employed.`

Disposed between. the: top` borderelement it and the element d3 is av curved' element'dlwhich forms the upper forward corner ofzthe signand which is also cast/,from light-Wei'ghtfmetak The corner element di may. be'boltedf or-otherwise secured to. the spacerimembersdll: The spacer: member di, which may be made in sections, is cast in the form of-l a channel, asbest shown in Fig. 5, so asto provide inner'andouter flanges et"v and `5 l the` inner angehaving-'holes therein adapted to align with the holes;` in the forward'- This elementv may "haver its longitudinal v edges bolted. directlyy to rthe upper flanges 21 of 'Y the sidemembers'lvandf l l lor to intermediate border. or spacer members M, to--beflater dev vertical. flanges-.21,` of; the, side.;. members varidi adaptedzto:.receive.; boltsr 5.2i which.- secu-re. the..

spacer. members totheanses of; theside-inerti.-v bersligandl i.

mernb ery sections.

rhelower forward `corneroi the sign is closed by 1an; arcuate border element 55 which hasA rib-- like-flanges at tsvends which `abut the ribbed. endzportionsofl the border-element M' and a castA border element 5i' which forms the bottom Vof the sign., The element 57 j is` substantially channel. shapeand, asshowninl Fig.- 4, may-comprise centralplate-like section 58y and upstandingar`v f, cuate. sections 5S, these parts havinglanges'66E-v which ,are held in abutting relationship by boltsl 6 I. The nangesee, at-the vupper ends ofthe sec;. tions tiSjare-bolted toV theanges 2l at the lower ends of the side-members [tand Il. The cen-l tral section 5B is formed with socket portions S2.. invvhich electric lamps (not shown) are held, the lamps being'enclosed by dome-shaped globes. If preferred,. the sections 5S and 559 may eachbe composed of aseriesofA individual flanged panels` bolted `together' to provide a border element .El

offthe required length and width. Likewise, thel other border elements canV be made up of cast sections bolted together to make a sign of. appropriatesize as kregards height, widthand thickness. Preferably, the variousrborder elements haveinwardly directed flanges 65 -at their ends, the anges of adjacent elements being heldin abuttinU relation by means of bolts S16, asshown in G. lt will be apparentthat the several panels andborder elements, previously described,

may have their Aoutersurfaces provided with designs other than thoseherein shown, the present` invention not beinglimitedin this respect.

It will be observed 4from the foregoing that the present improved sign comprises a box-like shell, commonly referred to in. theart asa can which is. composed.v of a plurality of individual castv metal panels so construetedand assembled that they provide self-sustaining structural units or side members, thesev members being held in spacedv relationship by means of bracing mem.- bers; or spreaders. The edge or border or thel sign is composed or" a plurality of cast-metal ele-- ments which can be. assembled in various Ways` to produoea .border whichnot only will harmonf izo-with the store iront or other. building, but which. willproduce'athird dimensional effect S0 necessaryto maintain the architectural beauty of; the building. Itis pointed Outvthatthe Outer surfaces of the various Vsign components may be suitablyembossed during. the casting thereof sov asto produce a-largevariety of designs. Preferably; these surfaces are coated with vitreous or porcelain enamel of. desiredcolors so as tofurther enhance the. appearance of the electrical advertising display and greatly reduce the uprkeepv of the signlby eliminating periodic painting of the sign. While. it is true that the. side panels mightbe made assheet metal stampings, it isV particularly. pointed out that such stampings would possess veryv little, inherent strengthI and side member composed of such sheet metal parts would nottherefore, be self-sustaining. Onthe other hand, inthe. present improved sign structure, componentspi the side members,^ being. made from .cast meta-l,- constitutestructural. elef ments capable of.. withstandingA` considerable. stresses. and strains.. It is. therefore apparent.. thatithe.A present sign requires no internal supe 4porting framework such, as.. is used. in. comme The border .elementszare .bolted j directly to; the-.',outerrnanges 5I of the spacer tional signs wherein the sheet metal side members require structural reinforcement or backing.

It has been explained that the external faces of the ornamental components of the sign may be of any desired configuration, such as checkered, iluted, etc. In any event, it is an important feature of the invention to so space the bolt holes of the various components that the center-tocenter distance between the holes is equal to or iS a multiple of the spacing between the checkered or iiuted designs. By this provision, all the components, when assembled by bolts or other fastening means passing through the aligned holes, are disposed in a manner such that their checks or flutes together provide continuous design surfaces. It is apparent, therefore, that by spacing the design shapes of the components in multiples or the distance between bolt holes, a smooth, unbroken, external surface, free from unsightly seams between the parts, is provided.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to l1 of the drawings, the present invention further contemplates the provision of an electrically illuminated sign in which sigincharacter panels of unique ferm are incorporated. Such a panel l1 is illustrated in Fig. 7 as comprising a flat face portion T3 and a peripheral flange i9, the panel being preferably rectangular in shape and cast from light-weight metal. The face portion 'i8 may be plain as shown in Fig. 'l or may be provided with crossing depressions which form, in eiect, a field or mat of alternate light-reflecting pillows Bil and recesses 8i (Fig. 8) which together serve to diifuse light projected upon the panel from the lighting elements 'of the sign or from nearby sources of light, such as adjacent signs. The panel Vi is provided with a letter stroke 82 which, as shown by way of example, represents a letter U. The stroke 82 may, of course, be made in other outlines to represent different letters or sign characters and, as shown in Fig. 8, is raised from the plane of the panel. The character stroke S2 has arcuate inclined side Walls 83 and a central, concave, recess or reiiector portion 8S. Disposed within the reflector portion 8G is a fluorescent tube 85 which follows the contour of the character stroke. The outer surfaces of the side walls 83 also provide reiiectors which reflect rays of light emanating from other portions of the iluorescent tube 85 or from other tubes of the sign or from nearby signs as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 8. rl'he light tube 35 is so disposed in the character stroke 82 that a portion of the rays of light transmitted thereby are directed laterally and, as explained above, may be projected against the curved surfaces of the Sid@ Walls of adjacent character strokes to be reiiected thereby. These rays of light are deilected by the outer edges 85 of the stroke 82 so that they do not directly strike the surface of the panel l?. By forming thesurface of the panel 'il with the pillows S6 and recesses 8i, any light striking the surface or" the sign panel il is effectively diii'used so that the sign character formed by the fluorescent tube 85 remains clear and Well defined on the sign, and the reflection of secondary images from the surface of the sign is avoided.

Fig. 9 shows a construction in which the cast panel 9@ is provided with a recess 9i of the general outline of the sign character to be mounted on the panel. In this embodiment, a separate letter stroke element 92 is seated in the recess 9! and is secured therein by any suitable means (not shown). The element 92 is of substantially the sameV cross-sectional shape as the stroke D01` tion 82, previously discussed in connection with the sign panel illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, and located partially within the element is a fluorescent tube 93.

Referring now to Figs. 1G and 11, the invention contemplates the provision of a further modied type of sign panel wherein the character stroke et is formed as a raised portion of the cast metal panel. The raised letter stroke 96 has curved sides 8'! which serve as reflectors, and a central depression 93, the sides 99 of which also form reflectors. The surface of the panel 55 may be provided with raised square pillows Hi8 which are separated by grooves lill. The character stroke 95, which is shown by way of example as cast in the form of a letter E, is bordered by a iluorescent tube |02 which follows the outline of the letter and which is spaced forwardly from the front of the panel, as shown in Fig. ll. Preferably the tube i532 is mounted so that its center is substantially in alignment with the outer extremity of the character stroke 96. By this arrangement, only a small portion of the light transmittedby the tube l U2 is directed into the recess or depression 98, the major portion of the light being directed outwardly from the sign as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. ll. It will be observed that some of the light rays strike the curved surfaces of the sides 99 and 'are reflected thereby. Other light rays emanating from the light tube |82 strike the pillows l il!) and are diiused thereby. The illuminated sign character shown in Figs. lOandllis of the type usually referred to as an outline letter since the fluorescent tube 92 forms the outline of the character. It will be noted that since most of the light rays transmitted by the tube HD2 are directed outwardly and prevented from entering the space, or stroke, between the parallel portions of the illuminating tube, the appearance of the light from portions of the tube merging into a single wide beam, especially when viewed from a distance, is effectively avoided. This constitutes an important improvement over conventional illuminated signs wherein the light transmitted by the tubes is reflected by portions of the surface of the sign between the tubes so that clear, well defined characters are practically unobtainable. By Iproviding the surface of the sign panel with the convex pillows IG!! and grooves IGI, thelight rays transmitted to portions of the sign are effectively diiused thereby. Consequently, the sign may be coated with vitreous or porcelain enamel, or any other hard and durable material having a smooth, glassy surface, without increasing the reiiectibility of the surface of the sign.

While the improved sign has been hereinshown and described as embodied in certain specic constructions, by way of example, it will be apparent that the sign may be modied in certain respects within the concept of our invention. Consequently, we do not wish to be limited in this respect, but desire to be afforded the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. An illuminated sign including: a plurality of panel members bound together adjacent their edges, certain of said members having integral raised stroke portions projecting from a face thereof and defining sign characters of selected design, the sides of said stroke portions being inclined; and illuminating means mounted on each of said certain members and bordering the stroke portions thereof so as to form an outline of the sign character, said illuminating means being mounted in a plane extending parallel to the face of the respective member, said plane intersecting the portions of the stroke portions disposed most remotely from said face so that the major portion of the light rays emanating from the illuminating means is projected to and reflected by the face of the member and the inclined sides of said stroke portions.

2. An illuminated sign including; a plurality of panel members bound together adjacent their edges, certain of said members having integral raised stroke portions projecting from a face thereof and dening sign characters of selected design, the vsides of said stroke portions being inclined and the outer faces thereof having depressions provided With inclined reector surfaces; land illuminating means mounted on each of said certain members and bordering the stroke portions thereof so as to form an outline of the sign character, said illuminating means being mounted in a plane extending parallel to the face of the respective member, said plane intersecting said outer faces of said stroke portions so that the major portion of the light rays emanating from the illuminating means is projected to and reflected by the face of the member and the inclined sides of said stroke portions and a minor portion of the light rays being transmitted to and reected by said reflector surfaces.

8. A rigid sign-box structure adapted for attachment to a support, including: a pair of rigid, opposite parallel side members providing the side Walls of the structure; a plurality of transverse spreader members rigidly connected between said side members at spaced intervals throughout their areas for holding the same in spaced relationship; at least one hanger member connected to certain of said spreader members Within the confines of said side members by which the structure can be attached to the support, said hanger member having an end projecting beyond said side members, certain of said members having integral raised stroke portions projecting from a face thereof and defining sign characters of selected design, the sides of said stroke portions being inclined; and illuminating means mounted on `each of said certain members and bordering the stroke portions thereof so as to form an outline of the sign character, said illuminating means being mounted in a plane extending parallel to the face of the respective member, said plane intersecting the portions of the stroke portions disposed most remotely from said face so that the major portion of the light rays emanating from the illuminating means is projected to and reflected by the face of the member and the inclined sides of said stroke portions.

4. A rigid sign-box structure adapted for attachment to a support, including: a pair of rigid, opposite, parallel side members providing the side walls of the structure; a plurality of transverse spreader members rigidly connected between said side members at spaced intervals throughout their areas for holding the same in spaced relationship; at least one hanger member connected to certain of said spreader members Within the confines of said side members by which the structure can be attached to the support, said hanger member having an end projecting beyond said side members, certain of said members having integral raised stroke portions projecting from a face thereof and defining sign characters of selected design, the sides of said stroke portions being inclined and the outer faces thereof having depressions provided with inclined reilector surfaces; and illuminating means mounted on each of said certain members and bordering the stroke portions thereof so as to form an outline of the sign character, said illuminating means being mounted in a plane extending parallel to the face of the respective member, said plane intersecting said outer faces of said stroke portions so that the major portion of the light rays emanating from the illuminating means is projected to and reflected by the face of the member and the inclined sides of said stroke portions and a minor portion of the light rays being transmitted to and reflected by said reflector surfaces.

HAROLD R. OWEN. RALPH BROWN.

References Cited in the le Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 79,024 Gottlieb July 28, 1929 706,525 Butt Aug. 12, 1902 798,191 Lamb Aug. 29, 1905 1,308,157 Balogh et al July l, 1919 1,654,350 Shelton Dec. 27, 1927 1,698,059 Shulhof Nov. 27, 1928 1,792,124 Schaefer Feb. 10, 1931 1,820,913 Kelly et al Sept. 1, 1931 1,866,534 Janin July l2, 1932 1,918,570 Sheras July 18, 1933 2,005,757 Scott June 25, 1935 2,024,077 Thomas Dec. 10, 1935 2,079,707 Gordon et al. May 11, 1937 2,113,026 Kehl Apr. 5, 1938 2,114,550 Vandermeer Apr. 19, 1938 2,141,955 Lang Dec. 27, 1938 2,336,788 Hotchner Dec. 14, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,257 Great Britain Apr. 11, 1904 107,622 Australia June 2, 1939 126,941 Austria Jan. l1, 1932 350,542 Great Britain June l5, 1931 823,392 France Oct. 18, 1937 

